The origin and development of the moral ideasWestermarck, Edward
Philosophy
The origin and development of the moral ideas
Westermarck, Edward
Ethics; Ethics -- History; Prehistoric peoples
Mr. Neighbors states that, among the Comanches of Texas, "no
individual action is considered a crime, but every man acts for
himself according to his own judgment, unless some superior power--for
instance, that of a popular chief--should exercise authority over
him." Another writer says, "The Redskin has no moral sense whatever."
Among the Basutos, according to Casalis, morality "depends so entirely
upon social order that all political disorganisation is immediately
followed by a state of degeneracy, which the re-establishment of order
alone can rectify." Similar accounts are given as regards Central
Africa and some other places. Thus at Jenna, and in the surrounding
districts, "whenever a town is deprived of its chief, the inhabitants
acknowledge no law--anarchy, troubles, and confusion immediately
prevail, and till a successor is appointed all labour is at an end."
The Damaras "seem to have no perceptible notion of right or wrong."
The Tasmanians were "without any moral views and impressions." Eyre
says of the Australians that they have "no moral sense of what is just
and equitable in the abstract"; and a missionary had very great
difficulty in conveying to those natives any idea of sin. The Kacharis
had "in their own language no words for sin, for piety, for prayer,
for repentance"; and of another of the aboriginal tribes of India Mr.
Campbell remarks that they "are . . . said to be without moral sense."
Lord Avebury in this connection even quotes a statement to the effect
that the expressions which the Tonga Islanders have for ideas like
vice and injustice "are equally applicable to other things." The South
American Indians of the Gran Chaco are said by the missionaries to
"make no distinction between right and wrong, and have therefore
neither fear nor hope of any present or future punishment or reward,
nor any mysterious terror of some supernatural power." Finally, Lord
Avebury observes that religion, except in the more advanced races, has
no moral aspect or influence, that the deities are almost invariably
regarded as evil, and that the belief in a future state is not at
first associated with reward or punishment.[45]
[Footnote 45: Avebury, _op. cit._ p. 417 _sqq._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account